atopic march. Recent research done by Washington University School of Medicine found a cause to atopic march Research was done on mice examining TSLP(thymic stromal lymphopoietin) The gene that encodes for tslP is found on chromosome 5 Mice engineered to have defective skin similar to eczema in humans produced TSLP and eventually developed asthma. Another batch of mice with normal skin was engineered to overproduce TSLP yet also developed asthma TSLP is secreted into the blood stream when the skin is damaged indicating that there has been a breach in the protective barrier and further protections are necessary. Thus it helps bring about inflammation of the skin. Both lung and skin come in contact with the open environment. When tSLP flows in the bloodstream to the lungs it also causes inflammation. tslP thus causes lungs to be extremely sensitive to allergens. Conclusion While tsLP gene plays an important factor in the development of eczema and asthma, it is not the only factor. We have learned that the nature of eczema and asthma is an overactive immune system responding to allergens. thus any genes that have a factor in the hypersensitivity of the immune system may play a strong role in the development of eczema and asthma. While multiple genes play a factor in this environmental factors also play a strong role in triggering asthma and eczemaatopic march. Recent research done by Washington University School of Medicine found a cause to atopic march. Research was done on mice examining TSLP(thymic stromal lymphopoietin). The gene that encodes for TSLP is found on chromosome 5. Mice engineered to have defective skin similar to eczema in humans produced TSLP and eventually developed asthma. Another batch of mice with normal skin was engineered to overproduce TSLP yet also developed asthma. TSLP is secreted into the blood stream when the skin is damaged, indicating that there has been a breach in the protective barrier and further protections are necessary. Thus it helps bring about inflammation of the skin. Both lung and skin come in contact with the open environment. When TSLP flows in the bloodstream to the lungs, it also causes inflammation. TSLP thus causes lungs to be extremely sensitive to allergens. Conclusion While TSLP gene plays an important factor in the development of eczema and asthma, it is not the only factor. We have learned that the nature of eczema and asthma is an overactive immune system responding to allergens. Thus any genes that have a factor in the hypersensitivity of the immune system may play a strong role in the development of eczema and asthma. While multiple genes play a factor in this, environmental factors also play a strong role in triggering asthma and eczema